Two individuals at last Friday’s regular County Commission meeting gave reports of broadband expansion in the area. Melissa O’Brien of City Net gave the Commission and update on multi-county project to expand internet capabilities in several central West Virginia counties including Braxton. The federal grant, obtained by the Roane County Economic Development Authority will expand fiber optic cable to over 287 miles of the region including 60 miles in Braxton County. “The good news is the project is on budget and moving right along,” O’Brien told the Commission. “The bad news is we are behind schedule,” she said in her opening remarks. She explained that the holdup was clearance from the Department of Highways and other agencies. She estimated that the hurdles would be obtained for a December start of construction with a 250-day time line to finish.
Joe Hughes of Lynx WV also spoke to the Commission about expanding broadband in the county. Hughes enlightened the group regarding a wireless expansion project that his company recently completed at the Bulltown Campground which was getting great reviews. Hughes said his firm hoped to duplicate the services in other areas of need and was open for discussion with groups and organizations.
First to address the Commission when President Lisa Godwin called the meeting to order was EMS Director Tiffany Prior who was on vacation, via video phone. Prior presented an activity report of her agency for the month of June. She also outlined employee status changes that she would like the Commission to approve. She requested that Zackery Harrison an EMT and Holly Cunningham a paramedic be changed from part to full-time employment with all county benefits at the same hourly rate of pay they are currently receiving. The third request was to hire Christopher Shane Dellinger as a part-time paramedic/driver at an hourly rate of $21.50 per hour. All three requests were approved via separate motions.
Marie Lockard, director of Braxton County Testing Services presented reports of activities for her agency for the months of May and June.
Dale Hall, Interim OES/9-1-1 Director presented the Commission with his activity report for the month of June. Hall also requested permission to hire Vanessa Keller as a trainee for the 9-1-1 Center. Keller will start at $10.50 per hour with no county benefits. That request was granted on a motion by Larry Clifton.
Hall also requested permission to change the employee of LeighAnn McCumbers from part-time to full-time effective July 22. McCumbers will receive full county benefits, be paid an hourly rate of $14 and serve a 90-day probation period. That change was also approved.
Debbie Friend brought two matters before the Commission. She requested that the County again pay for the ambulance service to be in attendance at the upcoming Fairs and Festival Celebration. The $3,000 fee was approved and will be taken from the Hotel/Motel tax fund.
Friend also discussed the “Be Healthy Grant” for Holly Gray Park. She stated that the grant had been fully funded and as previously decided, the Commission would administer the grant. She presented two quotes for equipment to establish a 9-hole Disc Golf Course at the park. She recommended that the Commission approve the lowest bid from DiscStore.com for $3,742.91 which the body approved.
Commissioner Larry Clifton spoke at length about the drug problem in Braxton County. He challenged his fellow County Commissioners to finance measures and get involved in programs to combat the problem and challenged the Sheriff’s Department to step-up efforts to fight drugs and work on finding a better solution. Both the Commissioners and Sheriff Lou DellaMae said they agreed with Clifton’s assessment of the problem and would accept the challenge.
The Commission reviewed a letter from Gabby Gregory, Executive Director of the Braxton County Development Authority. In that communication she requested on behalf of the Authority, that the Commission reappoint Jeff Skidmore to a three-year term on the board and appoint Chad Morrison from Mountaineer Food Bank and Andrea Nicholas of Peoples Bank to the Board. The Commission approved the requests.
In other action, the Commission approved applications for corrections of erroneous assessments for Marc A. Jones and Shirley Newsome.
A request to consolidate contiguous tracts of land for tax purposes for Doy Taylor was also approved.
The Commission approved the resignation of Philip McKown as a full-time 9-1-1 dispatcher effective July 4.
After a brief discussion outlined the need for a new computer at the 9-1-1 Center to monitor the security cameras at the courthouse. The Commission approved a bid from GST-WV of $860.30 to replace the existing computer. The money will be taken from the Coal Severance fund.
The Commission, via two separate motions, authorize the President to use the PCard for registration fees and hotel accommodations for two upcoming meeting. Godwin and Melinda Randall will attend the WV988 CIT Summit at Embassy Suites in Charleston on July 29-31. Godwin will also use the card to pay for one night’s stay in Summersville to attend Regrounding Our Response WV meeting.
The Commission approved external budget revisions for the general and hotel/motel funds as presented by the County Clerk.
Following a brief discussion the Commission tabled action on a Website Maintenance Agreement so that they could review other options.
The Commission agreed to join other parties in sending a letter to Frontier requesting they clean-up and improve their transmission lines along the scenic Highway on Route 4 from Frametown to Clendenin.
The final act of the regular meeting was the approval of the invoices presented for payment and the minutes of the commission’s regular meeting on July 5 and special meeting of July 12. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m. The next regular meeting will convene on August 2 at 9:00 a.m.